Drake named Canada coach at 2016 all-star celebrity game

By The Canadian Press

Toronto rapper Drake has spent plenty of time in his courtside seat next to his home team’s bench, listening to Raptors head coach Dwane Casey holler at his players during timeouts.

Now we’ll find out if any of Casey’s coaching acumen has rubbed off on the Grammy Award-winning rapper.

Drake, who also serves as the Raptors’ global ambassador, will coach Canada’s team at the 2016 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 12 at Toronto’s Ricoh Coliseum. Drake’s squad will take on an American team coached by comedian and four-time celebrity game MVP Kevin Hart.

Canada’s team has plenty of athletic talent, anchored at point guard by two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and complemented by Toronto Blue Jays all-star right-fielder Jose Bautista. The team also includes Natalie Achonwa, a star of Canada’s Olympic-bound women’s basketball team, seven-time NBA all-star and former Raptor Tracy McGrady and former Canadian international Rick Fox.

Drake can also look to Win Butler for some timely defence. The six-foot-four frontman of Montreal rock band Arcade Fire racked up 12 rebounds in last year’s celebrity game.

Tennis star Milos Raonic, actor and singer Kris Wu, actor Stephan James and Drew and Jonathan Scott from the TV show “Property Brothers” round out the team.

Hart’s team will include actor Michael B. Jordan of “Friday Night Lights” and “Creed” fame and Nick Cannon of “America’s Got Talent.”

Actors Anthony Anderson, Jason Sudeikis and Bryshere (Yazz) Gray, former Raptors Chauncey Billups and Muggsy Bogues, Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne are also on the U.S. team.

The NBA All-Star game is set for Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre.

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